ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The operations of anti-illegal drug units of the Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) resulted in the arrest of a government employee and seven others and the seizure of PHP263,900 worth of prohibited drugs, a top official said Thursday.
Brig. Gen. Froilan Quidilla, PRO-9 director, identified the arrested government employee as Ronald Bonghanoy Biolango, 42, who was apprehended around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Solar, Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Biolango, an employee of Olutanga municipal government, yielded five heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu, P500 marked money, and a motorcycle, police said.
Police identified the other suspects as Rene Matias Faustenorio Jr., 36; Hasim Murphy Silan, 31; Dave Erana Patalinghug, 29; Ricardo Ehan Dagodog, 40; Jocelyn Egoc Noblefranca, 44; Cesar Ramos Toribio, 40; and Winston Suson Morales, 22.
Faustenorio was arrested in a law enforcement operation by way of service of search warrant around 5:40 p.m. Wednesday in Sitio Lubas, Barangay Turno, Dipolog City, the capital of Zamboanga del Norte, police said.
Faustenorio yielded some PHP200,000 worth of suspected shabu, police said.
Silan, meanwhile, was arrested in possession of some PHP5,200 worth of suspected shabu and PHP200 marked money in a buy-bust operation in Phase 1, Sitio Asinan, Barangay Kasanyangan here, police said.
Quidilla said the arresting team seized from Patalinghug some PHP2,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP500 marked money in a buy-bust operation around 7 a.m. Wednesday in Purok Lajoma, Barangay San Jose, Aurora, Zamboanga Del Sur.
On the other hand, Dagodog was arrested around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay La Union, Labason, Zamboanga del Norte. Seized from him were seven heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu, and PHP500 marked money, police said.
Recovered from Noblefranca were some PHP2,700 worth of shabu and PHP200 marked money when arrested in a drug buy-bust operation around 4:05 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Cawit here.
Moreover, police said Toribio was caught in possession of some PHP50,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP500 marked money in a buy-bust operation in Park Natin, Barangay Good Year, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Morales, police said, was arrested by joint team of policemen and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay New Village, Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur.
Morales yielded some PHP4,000 worth of shabu and PHP1,000 marked money, police said.
Quidilla said the suspects were detained for the filing of appropriate charges. (PNA)
